What does "fall by" mean (sense 1)?

To decrease by a stated amount or percentage, typically in a financial or statistical context. Example: "Company revenues fell by 15% in the final quarter, prompting an emergency board meeting."

Browse all

fall by

B2 neutral inseparable intransitive

To decrease by a specified amount or percentage.

In plain English

To go down by a certain number or amount.

What does "fall by" mean?

One main meaning — here's how to use it.

1 B2 neutral

common

To decrease by a stated amount or percentage, typically in a financial or statistical context.

"Company revenues fell by 15% in the final quarter, prompting an emergency board meeting."

inseparable

Usage tip

Used in financial, economic, and journalistic contexts to state precise reductions. Always followed by an amount, percentage, or figure. Common in headlines: 'Profits fall by 20%'. Not used to describe physical falling.

Words that pair with "fall by"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

percent half a third points margin figures sales

How to conjugate "fall by"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

fall by

I/you/we/they

3rd person

falls by

he/she/it

Past simple

fell by

yesterday

Past participle

fallen by

have + pp

-ing form

falling by

continuous

Hear "fall by" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "fall by" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "fall by"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

decline by decrease by drop by go down by reduce by shrink by

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "fall" All phrasal verbs with "by" More B2-level phrasal verbs